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Snails have the highest number of recorded extinction known in recent times; many more edible snail species are under threat of extinction. Akinfemi et al., (2014) stated that the rainforest and swamp forest zones of Nigeria are snail’s natural habitat. This endangering situation of the snail’s species is as a result of the societal behavior of the rural family dwellers. It is a common practice by women and children in rural communities with good forest vegetation suitable for snail habitation in their wild, to go into the forest when it rains to gather, hunt and hand pick snails for food and to sell in the rural markets to earn income for family expenses (Ba, 1994; Agbogidi et al., 2008).This has contributed to the depletion of snail natural stock. It is an established fact that the bulk of the snails meat consumed are obtained from their wild before they reach maturity (Esak and Takerhash, 1992), this has resulted in the depletion and decline of the wild snail species population at a faster rate. Snail meat is a relished delicacy found in the diets of people living in the southern rainforest and the riparian northern guinea savannah zones of Nigeria (Ibom, 2009). Many factors are attributed to this including high species demands, and a significant consumption increase. The need to have snail meat coming from organized rearing system and breeding, in order to achieve a substantial and sustainable snail meat supply to the teeming population in Nigeria becomes necessary (Ebenebe, 2000; Ariry, 2014). According to Agbogidi et al., (2008) the need for increased in animal protein consumption of the rural and urban Nigerian populace in the face of inflation has resulted in the increase in the consumption of snails as food and as a source of income to the peasant farmers and families in rural areas.

Some of the constraints to snails and snail farming are lack of foundation stocks, lack of technical knowledge of snail farming and management, seasonality of snail feeds and vegetation, Snail habitat destruction, climatic and environmental factors, diseases and parasites, predators, genetic constituents and human population growth.

Risk Factors and Human Activities that affect African Land Snails Population

Human activities constitute the largest threat, followed by climatic conditions that affect the snails’ biodiversity and population of snails in a given region. They include

- Deforestation i.e. the falling of trees for various purposes such as urbanization, road construction, building of industries, houses and schools.
- Use of pesticides, fertilizers, nematocides by crop farmers in weeds and nematode control in the farming. The use of agrochemicals such as pesticides in crop production also contributed in the change in the soil pH and the snail’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
- Slash and Burn agricultural practices of rural farmers during planting seasons. This displaces the snails in their natural habitat and exposes their eggs to harsh weather conditions such as sunlight and rain.
- Bush burning/ fires occasioned by the hunters of wild life animals e.g. bush meat
- Population growth and demand for cheap sources of animal protein
- Indiscriminate snail hunting in the forest (Ikojo et al., 2014).
- Lack of suitable foundation stock for large scale and commercial snail farming
- Unavailability of commercial snail feeds and concentrates

Commercial and intensive crop production systems, which uses inorganic fertilizers as a source of soil nutrients supplementation for profitable crop production. The use of inorganic fertilizers and compounds has destroyed the natural snail ecosystem and habitat suitable for snail growth, development and reproduction in their wild (Ikojo et al., 2014).

Climatic Factors Affecting African Land Snail Population in the Humid Tropics

Unfavorable climatic conditions and climate change poses a serious problem to snail population and farming in West African region. Climatic influence and its effects on snails have an associative effect on temperature, humidity, wind/air movement and light intensity. Snails are susceptible to infections and diseases caused by environmental contaminations and pollutants (Ebenso and Ologhobo, 2009).

Temperature: It is a major factor that influences the activities of snails. Snail requires lower and moderate temperature for normal feeding and body functions. Temperature ranges of between 23 - 28oc are suitable for snails’ growth and development. During hotter periods with high ambient environmental temperature, snails may experience heat stress. Heat stress poses a serious economic threat to snails population and snails under domestication. According to Ariry (2014), the effect of heat occasioned by high temperatures on snails could be in the form of reduced feed intake and utilization, reduced egg production, reduce growth rate, low body weight, poor hatchability and fertility. Okafor (2001) stated that snails hibernates and aestivation especially during dry hot unfavorable seasons. Air, environmental and noise pollutions (Ebenso and Ologhobo, 2009) affects snails.

Humidity: Snails enjoy moist and cooler environments, which is usually achieved when it rains, the atmospheric air become moist with high relative humidity. Snails are active at a relative humidity of between 70 - 90%. However acidic rains in some areas caused by high air pollutants adversely affect snails’ population (Ojiako, 2006). If the air is drier and hot, for longer periods, snails may dry up and die or hibernate. Snail pens and the top soils should be sprinkle with water regularly during hot periods especially in the dry seasons to maintain adequate damp environment (Ikechukwu, 2012).

Excessive air movement and winds: This is another climatic factor that may result in severe dehydration in snails and may cause them to retract into their shells, rather than feeding to gain weight and to breed. Prolong periods may cause the snails to go into aestivation which is a period of inactivity or dormancy in the life of snails (Okafor 2001).

Light Intensity: Snail requires light for their activities such as feeding and breeding. Though snails are nocturnal animals, however they require light for some photo-biological processes essential in the energy level and food chain e.g. cellular digestion and photosynthesis (Ikechukwu, 2012). Day light is usually from the sun, longer periods of light stimulate and prompt snails into reproduction under favorable conditions.

Soil Type: Snails depend very much on the soil for their food and reproduction e.g. egg laying. They can hardly survive or thrive effectively in the absence of a suitable soil-type. They require moist, aerated, easily drained, non waterlogged and non acidic soils. Soil rich in minerals contents and organic matters are good as too soil for snail farming after being sterilized to kill pathogens in the soils (Ikechukwu, 2012).

Predators of African Land Snails in the Humid Tropics

Giant African land snails are faced with the challenge of predator in their natural wild habitat, these predators pose a great danger to their normal growth and reproduction of snails, if not checkmated may lead to the decline in population of snail biodiversity or extinction of various snail species in nature. Predators mostly depend on their prey as a source of food for survival in the ecosystem. Snail predators feed on the snail species at their various stages of growth and maturity. According to Akinnusi (2014), snail predators includes: Arthropods –Insects (termites, beetle, mites, moth, driver ants, carabid beetles, cockroaches and soldier ants); Crusteceans: – Millipedes, Centipedes, Cricket, Crabs and Forest Spider; Reptiles:- Lizards and Snakes, Amphibians:- frogs, turtles and toads; nematodes, Rodents: - mice and rats; Aves:- birds, crows, ducks and turkeys as well as Mammal:- man (Ikechukwu, 2012).

Diseases and Parasite affecting African Land Snails in the Humid Tropics

The common diseases affecting snails either in their wild or in their cultured environments includes:

Fungal diseases mainly Fusarium Spp affects indigenous snail species native to West African region. They are susceptible this diseases causing agent. These diseases is commonly referred to as rosy eggs disease and the affect eggs turns reddish brown and die off (Akinnusi, 2014).

Parasites such as Alluaudihella Flavicornis are diseases vectors to snails both in their wild and under domestication.

Deficiency diseases, it occurs mostly in domesticated snails with poor feeding, as a result of lack of minerals nutrients especially calcium and phosphors. The affected snail’s shell turns white as a result of deficiency of calcium in their feeds over a longer period of time (Akinnusi, 2014).

Cannibalism: This mostly occurs in domesticated snails housed in pens. Older snails can eat, break the shells or fed on hatchlings as a source of nutrients especially calcium and water to avoid dehydration and for their survival. This occurs where snails are overcrowded and there is increased competition for food and space (Ikechukwu, 2012).

According to Okafor, (2001) and Akinnusi (2014), they stated that predators of snails inflict havoc on the snails by either breaking their shells, biting or sting the snails or eat them as food both their eggs and juvenile snails e.g. frogs and reptiles (Akinnusi, 2014). Snail predators adversely affect the population of the native Giant African Land Snail species of West African origin and its biodiversity.

Generally maintaining of high hygienic standards in snail farms will reduce the incidence of diseases and spread of diseases in the snail farms. According to Walker et al., (1999), snails ingest micro-organisms e.g. bacteria from the soil and their environment, poor hygiene may predispose the snails to diseases and pathogens, which will affect their growth and reproduction.